double-talk
or dou·ble·talk
speech using nonsense syllables along with words in a rapid patter.
deliberately evasive or ambiguous language: When you try to get a straight answer, he gives you double-talk.
to engage in double-talk.
to accomplish or persuade by double-talk.
Origin of double-talk
1Other words from double-talk
- double-talker, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use double-talk in a sentence
Why all this double talk and evasion about a hugely enjoyable foray into genre fiction?
Sure, the West Point speech was filled with politics and double talk.
Obama Got It Right—And Petraeus Agrees '100 Percent' | Leslie H. Gelb | December 2, 2009 | THE DAILY BEASTAlso, it has some of the elements of modern international diplomacy in its double-talk and duplicity.
David Lannarck, Midget | George S. HarneyThat—that double talk of ours didn't make any impression on that Stohl.
Dave Dawson on the Russian Front | R. Sidney BowenChahda walked right up to him, muttering something that was probably Hindu double talk.
The Pirates of Shan | Harold Leland Goodwin
Now they would stall him off about the machines after handing him a fast line of double-talk.
Assassin | Jesse Franklin BoneHe'd duck the question or give them some diplomatic double-talk.
Project Mastodon | Clifford Donald Simak
British Dictionary definitions for double talk
rapid speech with a mixture of nonsense syllables and real words; gibberish
empty, deceptive, or ambiguous talk, esp by politicians
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with double-talk
Meaningless speech, gibberish mixing real and invented words. For example, Some popular songs are actually based on double talk. [1930s]
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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